Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of Diode-Pumped Tm:YAG Laser in Active Mirror Configuration

Based on the rate-equations of quasi-three-level lasers, we analyzed the threshold and the output power of longitudinally pumped Tm:YAG lasers in an active mirror configuration. In contrast to one-pass pumping, two-pass pumping in this configuration will result in a 24% decrease in threshold and 16% increase in slope efficiency. Using a 3-W diode-laser pumping in the active mirror configuration, we demonstrated a CW Tm:YAG laser and obtained 735 mW output power with a slope efficiency up to 49%. Using a Ti:sapphire laser to pump the same device, the threshold power was further reduced and the slope efficiency reached 59%.     

Efficient tunable laser operation of diode- pumped Yb,Tm:KY(WO4)2 around 1.9 μm

A new laser medium – Yb,Tm:KY(WO₄)₂ – for diode pumped solid state laser applications operating around 1.9 to 2.0 μm has been investigated and the main laser characteristics are presented. Diode pumping at 981 nm and around 805 nm was realised. For 981-nm pumping, the excitation occurs into Yb³⁺ ions followed by an energy transfer to Tm³⁺ions. A slope efficiency of 19% was realised. For pumping around 805 nm, the excitation occurs directly into the Tm³⁺ ions. Here a maximum slope efficiency of 52%, an optical efficiency of 40%, and output powers of more than 1 W were realised. Using a birefringent quartz plate as an intracavity tuning element, the tunability of the Yb,Tm:KY(WO₄)₂ laser in the spectral range of 1.85–2.0 μm has been demonstrated. The possibility of laser operation in a microchip cavity configuration for this material has also been shown. Received: 12 March 2002 / Revised version: 20 May 2002 / Published online: 25 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-531/592-4116, E-mail: stefan.kueck@ptb.de     

Spectroscopy and laser properties of Tm<Superscript>3+</Superscript>:KY(WO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> crystal

The polarized absorption spectra of Tm³⁺-doped potassium yttrium tungstate (Tm:KY(WO₄)₂) crystal at room temperature were measured. The emission spectrum and lifetime of the ³ F ₄ excited state were determined. Using standard and modified Judd–Ofelt theories, the intensity parameters and the radiative lifetimes were calculated and good agreement with the experimental results was obtained for both theories. Continuous-wave laser operation in Tm:KYW crystal under laser diode pumping at 802 nm and 1750 nm was demonstrated with slope efficiency of 53% and 28% and output power of about 555 mW and 86 mW, respectively. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.60.Pk; 42.70.Hj     

Continuous wave and tunable laser operation of Yb3+ in disordered NaLa(MoO4)2

Continuous-wave Yb³⁺ laser operation is studied in single crystals of disordered NaLa(MoO₄)₂ at room temperature. The sample used was grown by the Czochralski technique and incorporates an Yb ion density of 3.1×10²⁰ cm^-3. The effect of the Yb concentration on some of the crystal properties is described as well as the spectroscopic Yb³⁺ properties at 5 K. Maximum slope efficiencies of about 40% for π and 38% for σ polarization were obtained under Ti:sapphire laser pumping near 976 nm, respectively. The maximum output power for the π polarization was 400 mW at 1039.5 nm, the threshold in this case amounted to 240 mW (absorbed pump power). The laser emission was tunable between 1016 and 1064 nm with a Lyot filter. Lasing was also realized by pumping with a fiber-coupled diode laser module. Maximum output power of 900 mW at 1035 nm was achieved in this case for the π polarization and the threshold was 280 mW. The results, in terms of output power and tunability, are superior in comparison to all previous reports on Yb-doped disordered double tungstate or molybdate crystals and represent a significant improvement in comparison to earlier experiments with low-doped Yb:NaLa(MoO₄)₂.PACS 42.55.Rz; 42.55.Xi; 42.70.Hj     

Blue up-conversion with excitation into Tm ions at 808 nm in YVO4 crystals co-doped with thulium and ytterbium

The up-conversion of infrared radiation at 808 nm, emitted by a diode laser, into blue emission centered at 480 nm in 1 at.% Tm, 5 at.% Yb: YVO₄; 1 at.% Tm, 8 at.% Yb: YVO₄ and 2 at.% Tm, 5 at.% Yb: YVO₄ has been studied. The highest intensity of blue emission is found for the 1 at.% Tm, 8 at.%Yb: YVO₄ system. The power dependence of up-converted emission upon continuous-wave excitation as well as the time evolution of its intensity upon short-pulse excitation were found to be consistent with a two-step excitation mechanism in which the forward Tm³⁺–Yb³⁺ energy transfer is followed by the back Yb³⁺–Tm³⁺ energy transfer. The effect of dopant concentrations on the up-conversion process is interpreted taking into account dynamics of the excited states involved.     

In‐band pumped Ti:Tm:LiNbO3 waveguide amplifier and low threshold laser

The fabrication by diffusion doping and a detailed optical investigation of a Ti:Tm:LiNbO₃ waveguide amplifier and of a Fabry‐Pérot type Ti:Tm:LiNbO₃ laser are reported. Both devices are in‐band pumped by a laser diode at 1650 nm. The wave‐guide amplifier shows broad‐band optical gain in the wavelength range 1750 nm < λ < 1900 nm. The laser emits at 1890 nm, the longest emission wavelength of a Tm:LiNbO₃ laser reported so far; also 1850 nm emission could be demonstrated. Laser threshold (1890 nm) is at 4 mW coupled pump power; the slope efficiency is ∼13.3%. Properties and potential of both devices are analyzed by extensive modeling.     

高效全固化紫外四倍频激光器的研究

用半导体激光器抽运的调Q YLF倍频激光器抽运掺钛蓝宝石激光器，用LBO晶体在腔内产生二次谐波，再聚焦到BBO晶体上产生四次谐波深紫外激光。为了提高谐波转换效率，在腔内分别插入了单片、组合双折射滤光片和聚焦透镜，在平均功率为3.6W，波长为527nm的抽运光下得到410mW，417nm的蓝光。用长焦距的透镜聚焦二次谐波，得到34mW，208nm的紫外脉冲激光。从实验上详细研究了基频光的线宽对二次谐波效率的影响，二次谐波的线宽对四次谐波效率的影响、基频光的波长对四次谐波产生效率的影响。全面地分析了单片和组合大拆射滤光片及抽运功率对钛蓝宝石激光器基频光的脉宽、线宽等参量的影响。     

Continuous-wave laser operation of Yb:LuVO4

We report on the room-temperature spectroscopic properties and continuous-wave laser operation of a new Yb:LuVO4 crystal. The peak absorption cross section for the pi-polarization is 8.42 x 10(-20) cm2 at 985 nm, and the stimulated emission cross section at 1020 nm is 1.03 x 10(-20) cm2. An output power of 0.36 W at 1041 nm was obtained with a slope efficiency of 47% by use of Ti:sapphire laser pumping. With diode pumping the output power reached 1.05 W at the highest available incident pump power of 6.8 W.     

Enhanced performance of thin-disk lasers by pumping into the zero-phonon line

Pumping Yb:YAG or Yb:LuAG into the zero-phonon line at 969?nm instead of using the common pump wavelength of 940?nm reduces the heat generation by 32%. In addition to the 3% increase of the Stokes efficiency, this significantly reduces the diffraction losses caused by the thermally induced phase distortions leading to a remarkable increase of the overall efficiency especially of fundamental-mode thin-disk lasers. Using this pumping scheme in an Yb:LuAG thin-disk laser, we achieved 742?W of nearly diffraction limited (M²≈1.5) output power at an unprecedented high optical efficiency of 58.5%. For multimode operation (M²≈15) the maximum optical efficiency of an Yb:YAG thin-disk laser was increased to 72%.     

Pulsed and cw Cr,Tm:YAG laser with simultaneous diode and flashlamp excitation

A Cr,Tm:YAG laser, under simultaneous flashlamp and diode laser excitation, was demonstrated. With respect to diode pumping a cw-output power of 35 W with a slope efficiency of 20% was achieved. With flashlamp excitation pulse energies up to 465 mJ were realised. This operation was supported by simultaneous diode pumping to bring the laser close to threshold. Repetition rates up to 10 Hz were demonstrated with this simultaneous pumping mode of the Cr,Tm:YAG laser crystal.     

Excited-state absorption and 1064-nm end-pumped laser emission of Nd:YVO4 single-crystal fiber grown by laser-heated pedestal growth

We present an investigation of the excited-state absorption and laser emission of a 1.0-at. %-Nd3+-doped YVO4 single-crystal fiber grown by the low-cost and versatile laser-heated pedestal growth technique. Efficient laser emission at 1064 nm was achieved when the fiber was pumped, in an end-pump cavity, by a Ti:sapphire laser at 808 nm. A continuous-wave threshold of 10 mW was observed with an efficiency of 42% with respect to the absorbed pump power and the maximum output power of 200 mW. These results are excellent when compared with those of a commercial bulk crystal adapted to the same cavity (48% efficiency, 250-mW maximum output power). Thus the fibers are characterized as strong candidates for the construction of compact lasers that can also be pumped by low-cost diode lasers.     

薄片式Yb:YAG激光器及其应用

介绍了薄片式固体激光器的原理,YbYAG晶体的特性及其与传统棒状NdYAG晶体固体激光器的对比.VersaDisk固体激光器是一个功能强大的光学平台,可以实现红外(基频)、绿光(倍频)或双波长(红外和绿光)同时输出,也可以在腔内插入标准具、布儒斯特窗片、双折射滤光片来实现单频、线偏振、波长可调谐等多项传统棒状固体激光器实现不了的功能.该激光器在科研领域可以用于中红外高分辨率光谱、玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚和光镊、材料微加工、泵浦高功率Tisapphire激光器和染料激光器和全息、干涉、光存储等需要激光器单频特性的应用领域.     

Sub-90 fs pulses from a passively mode-locked Yb:YAl<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> laser

Passive mode locking of the self-frequency doubling Yb:YAB crystal with a saturable absorber mirror is studied at the fundamental wavelength. This laser has a very low threshold, and pulses as short as 85 and 87 fs are obtained for Ti:sapphire and diode laser pumping, respectively.     

Tm3+:Ho3+共掺石英光纤激光器的实验研究

用铥钬共掺石英光纤,在钛宝石激光泵浦下,获得了波长为1870 nm、最大功率为240 mW的单模激光输出,斜率效率接近31％这是目前用该类光纤获得的最高转换效率研究了输出激光功率、输出光谱随泵浦功率、激活光纤长度的变化关系,并对相应结果进行了分析     

On the growth and lasing characteristics of thick Nd:GGG waveguiding films fabricated by pulsed laser deposition

Pulsed laser deposition of epitaxial, single-crystal Nd:Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂ (Nd:GGG) films on Y₃Al₅O₁₂ substrates with thicknesses up to 135 m and propagation losses as low as 0.1 dB/cm is reported. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry has shown constant stoichiometry for the films throughout their depth. Fluorescence properties were similar to that of the bulk Nd:GGG crystal used as a target material for the deposition and lasing action has been observed at 1059.0 and 1060.6 nm after pumping by a Ti:sapphire laser operating at 808 nm. A laser threshold of 18 mW has been obtained and a slope efficiency of 17.5% has been observed using an output coupler of 4.5%. The low losses in combination with the high numerical aperture (0.75) and the thickness of the structures make them suitable for high-power diode pumping. PACS 42.70.Hj; 42.55.-f; 42.82.Et; 42.79.Gn; 81.15.Fg     

双重复频率锁模Yb:YAG陶瓷激光器

近年来,双重复频率锁模激光器在诸如双光梳光谱和异步光学采样等应用领域吸引了广泛关注.基于单一激光腔的双梳系统能大大降低成本,简化系统结构,且性能优异.双重复频率锁模激光器为发展紧凑型和实用型双梳装置开辟了道路.本文报道了一种可用作双光梳光谱系统光源的双重复频率锁模Yb:YAG陶瓷激光器.该激光器基于半导体可饱和吸收镜锁模技术,采用双通道抽运结构,利用新型非水基流延成型制备的Yb:YAG透明陶瓷,在单一的五镜腔中,当吸收抽运光功率为5.6 W时,实现了自启动、稳定运转的双重复频率锁模脉冲Pulse1和Pulse2,其重复频率分别为448.918和448.923 MHz,重复频率差为5 kHz.在吸收抽运功率为7 W时,得到最大的总平均输出功率170 mW,其中Pulse1和Pulse2的功率分别为89和81 mW,相应的光谱宽度分别为1和1.16 nm.性能相似的双重复频率脉冲彼此间保持了良好的相干性,实验结果证明了双通道抽运在双重复频率锁模激光器应用中的可行性,此种新型双重复频率激光器在双光梳光谱和测距等领域具有较好的应用潜力.     

Tm,Ho:YLF microchip laser under Ti:sapphire and diode pumping

In this paper, we compare the performances of a Tm,Ho:YLF microchip laser when pumped by a Ti:sapphire laser and by a fiber-coupled diode laser. We report the performances obtained for both pumping schemes. Afterwards, we analyse, the reasons for the reduction in efficiency. Using a theoretical model, we conclude that the loss in performance for diode pumping is essentially due to the pump power reflected by the laser cavity when the crystal faces present parasitic reflectivity at the pump wavelength. Received: 19 June 1999 / Revised version: 2 August 1999 / Published online: 30 November 1999     

采用飞秒光纤激光同步泵浦的自启动锁模钛宝石激光研究

针对常规连续激光泵浦钛宝石激光振荡器不能自启动锁模的缺点,采用倍频飞秒光纤激光同步泵浦,通过调节振荡器腔长与泵浦腔长匹配,实现了飞秒钛宝石激光的自启动锁模。实验中采用3.4 W的倍频掺镱光纤激光同步泵浦钛宝石激光振荡器,获得了平均功率大于130 mW、重复频率75 MHz、光谱宽度大于47 nm、脉冲宽度17 fs的锁模脉冲输出,不仅能够稳定可靠地实现自启动锁模,解决了常规钛宝石激光振荡器锁模启动的困难,而且还具有同步输出1040,800,520 nm三束飞秒激光的特点,为进一步开展飞秒激光相干合成以及光参量放大等研究提供了优势基础。     

Simultaneous generation of violet,blue, and green lasers using Nd:YAl3(BO3)4 channel waveguides under pumping at 815 nm

Violet, blue, and green lasers were simultaneously generated by nonlinear processes using ultrafast laser inscribed neodymium‐doped yttrium aluminum borate (Nd:YAl₃(BO₃)₄ or Nd:YAB) channel waveguides under pumping at 815 nm. These visible lasers were generated by the frequency doubling, self‐frequency summing, and self‐frequency doubling processes based on a 1062 nm laser radiation that corresponded to the ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_11/2 transition of Nd³⁺ ions. Further, the wavelength tunability for the violet and blue lasers was achieved by simply tuning the pump wavelength within the ⁴I_9/2 → ⁴F_5/2 transition. The results obtained indicate that Nd:YAB waveguides are promising candidates for efficient compact visible laser sources. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Injection-seeded Tm:YAG laser at room temperature

The solid-state, tunable, narrowband, high pulse energy and high reliability lasers are attractive source for LIDAR system. In this paper, we demonstrated a diode pumped injection-seeded 2 μm Tm:YAG laser. By inserting two F-P etalons into the laser cavity, linear-polarized single-frequency seed-laser was achieved at a wavelength of 2013 nm, with a maximum output power of 60 mW. Long-term and short-term frequency stability for the seed-laser were 1.27 × 10^− 7 and 97 Hz/μs, respectively. High power Q-switched laser was operated using a bowtie cavity, the bidirectional output of which was favorable for the injection-seeded. After injecting the seed-laser to the power-laser, single-frequency, nearly transform-limited pulsed 2 μm laser was obtained. As much as 2.0 mJ output energy was achieved at an operating repetition rate of 15 Hz, with a pulse width of 356.2 ns.